chinquapin

American  

[ching-kuh-pin] / ˈtʃɪŋ kə pɪn /

Or chincapin,

noun

1. a shrubby chestnut, Castanea pumila, of the beech family, native to the southeastern United States, having toothed, oblong leaves and small edible nuts.

2. Also called golden chinquapin.  a Pacific coast evergreen tree, Castanopsis chrysophylla, of the beech family, having deeply furrowed bark, dark green lance-shaped leaves, and inedible nuts.

3. the nut of either of these trees.

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chinquapin British  

/ ˈtʃɪŋkəpɪn /

noun

1. a dwarf chestnut tree, Castanea pumila, of the eastern US, yielding edible nuts

2. Also called: giant chinquapin.  a large evergreen fagaceous tree, Castanopsis chrysophylla, of W North America

3. the nut of either of these trees

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Etymology

Origin of chinquapin

An Americanism dating back to 1605–15; from Virginia Algonquian ( English spelling) chechinquamins

Example Sentences

Other susceptible genera of the family Fagaceae are Chinese chestnut, Castanea mollissima, golden chinquapin, Castanopsis chrysophylla, tanbark oak, Lithocarpus densifiora, and Nothofagus from South America.

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 43rd Annual Meeting Rockport, Indiana, August 25, 26 and 27, 1952 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Dey git fat on black haws and acorns and chinquapin and sich.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Texas Narratives, Part 1 by Work Projects Administration

Our first step was to prepare a chinquapin whistle.

From Caxton's Book: A Collection of Essays, Poems, Tales, and Sketches. by Rhodes, W. H. (William Henry)

The summer green of the chinquapin burrs had given place to a richer coloring; the sumac and blackberry bushes flushed red in the sunlight.

From Crestlands A Centennial Story of Cane Ridge by Bayne, Mary Addams

The woods were stocked with oak, hickory, chestnut, beech, chinquapin, and persimmon trees and shrubs, the fruits of which were all grouped under the general term mast.

From Agriculture in Virginia, 1607-1699 by Carrier, Lyman